Monday, October 09, 2006

Does Orwell follow his own advice in "A Hanging" and "Shooting an Elephant"?

Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything autright barbarous.

Give an example!

2 Comments:

Blogger Hana Richter said...

Orwell's writing in "Shooting an Elephant" is very hypocritical versus the "directions" that he addresses in "Politics of the English Language." He says that "flowerly" language is abusing the language, but then again, there is part in "Politics of the English Language" in which he uses Ecclesiastes writing to describe how modern english is the worst type of english. Clearly, Orwell is not using his advice in "A Hanging" and "Shooting an Elephant."

2:15 PM  
Blogger Mrzhire said...

What do you really think?

2:13 PM  

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